Reflections

Chapter 3

When I got to the town, I gasped. There were so many people outside, all doing their own thing and none seemed to be affected by the current situation with the kingdom. They all were happy; children were running and playing and the adults were all talking amongst each other. I was thankful that they were wearing normal clothes and weren't wearing dresses like I imagined kingdoms would be filled with. This made it easy to blend in as I entered the village and walked amongst them. I covered my face with the hood of my jacket and walked down the street looking around for anything that could give me a clue as to where my mom would be.

I saw two men in dark blue uniforms head into my direction and freaked out. I quickly turned around and ran into the building to my side, leaving the door ajar, I watched them pass me.

"Any word on the princess?" The man with long brown hair asked. His eyes were dressed in bent eyebrows and he wore a scowl that could scare anyone. His voice was rough and old and made his age noticed. He looked to be about forty- maybe fifty.

"None. The King is having everyone look for her. He believes she's the key to everything with the other kingdoms." The second guy was about the same age as the first but showed his age a bit more. His chiseled jaw was covered in white stubble that perfectly matched the hair that was tied into a ponytail on his head.

"Why does he need her? It's not like she has ever been here or have seen the other kingdoms?"

The other kingdoms won't agree to being allies with someone who took over a friends kingdom. Plus! It is a hazard being allies with someone who isn't afraid to take over a kingdom; if you're not careful, they can take over yours too." The older man stopped in front of the door causing my breath to quicken. I ran to a seat across the room and stared down at the table so they wouldn't be able to see my face.

A woman came up to me, tapping her foot as if she was waiting for something. I thought that maybe I was in her spot and she was waiting for me to move until I saw that she was holding a notepad. I looked up at her right as she popped a big bubble of gum and smacked her lips.

"What do you want, hun? I don't got all day," She rolled her eyes in annoyance and clicked her tongue as she spoke. Click.

"Water, please." I whispered my order, aware that the two soldiers had stepped into the tavern and seated themselves at the bar in front of me. The woman nodded and popped another gum bubble before turning her heel and leaving.

"What does the princess have to do with any of that?" I heard the first soldier ask.

The older one took a swig of his beer and sighed as if he was annoyed that his companion wasn't getting the situation. "I'm sure glad you aren't the king. This is basic stuff, Dave, if we have the princess then it will be easy to convince the other kingdoms that the king is a nice guy and should be trusted. It'll seem like he is nice enough for the princess to fall in love with him."

Dave dropped his jaw and his lips moved into the form of an "o". He looked as if he understood but what I didn't understand is how on Earth they think I would fall for someone who took over my mother's kingdom. I'm not stupid. Well, this mission may be stupid but I would do anything for my mother. The waitress placed the water down in front of me with a thud. I grunted acknowledging it and hoped she'd leave but she didn't.

"You know what," she asked. Pop. "You look familiar." She popped another bubble and I was started to get annoyed with it. She smacked her lips and clicked her tongue with every word she said. I was going to lose my mind- and my cover- if I didn't get her to leave me alone. "Have we met?"

I shook my head, "no."

"I just can't figure out where I know you from; it's on the tip of my tongue." Click. Pop. Grr.